Odisha Govt Orders Streamlining Covid Testing Process In State

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of surge in Covid-19 cases in Odisha, the State government has emphasised on timely testing of all Covid suspect persons and quick action for isolation of positive cases.

“It is seen that in many districts the protocols are not being observed due to which there is delay in testing and isolation of affected persons,” health department additional chief secretary PK Mohapatra wrote to all district Collectors, Municipal Commissioners, CDMO and PHOs.

The officials have been asked to observe the following points at the district level

• Coved Appropriate Behaviour should be ensured at Sample Collection Centres where Covid suspect persons gather for testing Social distancing and use of mask is to be enforced
• All persons who have given sample for testing should be asked to quarantine themselves till the result is known
• RT-PCR samples should be dispatched from district to the laboratory on the same day of collection
• The number of RTPCR samples sent by the districts in a day should be within the target allotted for the district to prevent backlog of samples in laboratories and delay in testing
• District teams should check results of testing, which is received from laboratories via email several times a day
• All persons should be informed of the result of testing at the earliest and positive cases isolated immediately
• The above points have also been discussed during the review of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and should be adhered to without deviation.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)